Arch support for shoes



July 28, 1931. w. P. BRADFORD ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES Filed July 1. 1929 Patented July 28, 1931 tjhii i fifi STATES PATENT OFFICE WINSLOW P. BRADFORD, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK ARCH sorronzr FOR snonsv Application filed m 1, 1929. Serial No. 375,208.

, My present invention pertains to arch supports and it contemplates the provision of a shank that is adapted to be secured in a shoe through the medium of which a rigid support is provided for the tarsal bones of the foot while a flexible support is provided for the metatarsal bones.

p The invention further contemplates the provision in an arch support formed with a shank so constructed and arrangedthat it extends well back under the heel of a shoe whereby fastening means may be employed to secure the inner sole, shank of the arch support, the outer sole and the heel together by the employment of one fastening means.

Other objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper and heel of a shoe and showin in broken lines my novel arch supporting element.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of a shoe equipped with my novel device and showing the outer sole and heel removed from the shoe. Figure 3 is atop plan view of the shank of the arch support and Figure 4 is a perspective view thereof. Similar numerals of reference designate 1 corresponding parts mall the views of the drawings. Y

I illustrate a shoe having an upper 1 that is secured in the well known manner to the inner sole 2 and adapted to be secured on the shank of the inner sole, and to be invisible when the outer sole is secured in place, is a shank or arch support having the forwardlv reaching rigid portion 3 that is adapted to support the tarsal bones of the foot adjacent the ball of the foot, and at a point slightly beyond the end of the support I provide the nibs 4 that are an integral part of the support and are punched therefrom. It will be seen that the portion 3 of the support lies practically fiat against the inner sole'2 and is preventedfrom shifting by means of the nibs or brads .4 which take into the inner sole. The shank extends rearwardly from the end 3 and comprises the two forked portions 5 and 6. The portion 5 is curved slightly less than the portion 6 and when in position with respect to the inner and outer soles of the shoe as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 2 of the drawings, the portion 6 of the member 6 rests on the member 5. The purpose of this is to give resiliency to the shank when posi tioned. Otherwise if one shank portion did not bear on the other less support would be given to the shank of the shoe. It will be seen therefore that both stiffness and resiliency are present in my novel device. This device not only holds up the arch of the shoe but gives proper support to the tarsal and metatarsal bones of the foot and at the same time, the shank being flexible, exercises the muscles of the arch of the foot. Manifestly the ends of the members 5 and 6 are confined by the guides 7 and 8 which guides 7 and 8 are formed as an integral part of the member 9 of my novel support. This member 9 extends well back under the heel of the shoe and is secured to the inner sole by means of the two tacks 10 and is also provided with an elongated slot 11 that is adapted to engage or receive a screw or other fastening device 12. This screw 12 passes through the member 9 and secures themember to the inner sole and in turn engages the outer sole as well as the heel 18 together. It will be seen that any creeping of the support will take place during walking of the wearer and that a spring arch support is provided because notwithstanding the fact that the elements of the support are secured in the shoe nevertheless the manner of securing the portions 5 and 6 in the keepers 7 and 8 willpermit slight backward and forward movement of the members 5 and 6 incident to movement of the wearer of the shoe. The shank may also be used to good advantage on all types of shoes made with leather or wooden heels, and the flexible fore part of the shank not only acts as a support but also tends to exercise the arch muscles and ease the metatarsal bones. Moreover'it is so'constructed that the various bends required for different types of arches of lasts are provided when spreading the wings at the time that they are stamped out.

quired because it is adaptable to all shoes .wardly extending portions of the fore part regardless of the height of the arch while to slightly flex. the same rigid back portion is employed at In testimony whereof I have hereunto set all times. Y my hand, It will be noted that the back element 9 is WINSLOW P. BRADFORD. 70 rigidly secured by the short tacks 10 to the I insolevand that the screw 12 of the heel 13 passes through an aperture in the back portion 9 of the support. This screw in conjunc- 10 tion with the tacks cause the back portion to be held rigid and support the scaphoid bone of the foot in the shoe. The slidable plate or the curved shank portions 5 and-6 thereof acts as a supportfor the metatarsal 15 bones of the foot while the flexibility ofthe f sutp rt end dev op he me atar a s: r i r ales ofthe foot. Manifestly the fore art ot t e flppo t fl x on mov nt of t e foot inwalking'yet the constructionof the 2 m m ers an vfii i l] t ndtosuppo the seapheid bone; during walking. It follows "that the support as a wholeaets as a rigid as well as a movable andfiexihle arch sup- -port f a, 2 What I filmiS1+ g V i i 1 I l. a c supp rt ompri ing a shan p -ion, barbs formed on t e shank portion; said-shan por ion comp ising two win s one of which is curved slightly more than the i y g V '30 other and is adapted t bear on the first por- I tion, and means secured to the heel portion of a vshoe for confining the wings one aga nst thoother, 7:

Q. The combination of a singlepiece of I ,7 bendable {material having aportion adapted 1 Y Z or 0 to besecured on the inner sole of a-shoe, wings I i l formed in the material/and so constructed and arranged that one of the wings la'psiover V he other, and a-member adaptedrto be secured in the heel portion of, a shoe-andhaving guides '60 engagethe wings of the first portion 4 and further having an elongated slolt'to ac-' commodate means for fastening a heel .to

the outer sole of the shoe. e V $5, .3.- An. arch support comprising two mem: v i v Y bersone ofwhich is provided with Wings so I J constructed and arranged that they lap each other and the other'of which isprovided with a body portion having an elongated slot 51; therein, and means 'formedintegral thereon for engaging the wings to permit flexible movement of the wings substantially as and for the purpose specified: V a V 55 archsup port for shoes}; comprising V p c 7V e r gld rear member having guides formed therein, rigidly supported. -oi' i stain the scap oi ne, an ore pe ompr in rearwardly extending flexible members o n,e H V QQ of which is curi ed slightlyniore than'the r 1 Y V 5 ether-e d. a apt d t be enga b the uides of th -fi st po tio s i fo esaw Qt c the supportbeing secure -at o e n to he inner sole and so co st uc edand iigj d' '65 that-flexing.o tho foot wilieaus th r a e: I I I j 9 

